Monarch butterfly

This pattern is written in American crochet notation. You will need black, orange and white 8 ply wool, a 4mm hook and a 2.5 mm hook. You will also need googly eyes and stuffing. The finished butterfly has a wingspan of 42 cm and is 21 cm long.

Wings

See the diagram. Use black, orange and white 8 ply wool and a 2.5 mm hook.

I know the image is a little small. I managed to upload a larger image onto Ravelry.

Body

Thorax

With black wool and a 4mm hook

Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)

Round 2: increase in each stitch (12 stitches)

Round 3: sc in the first stitch, increase in the next stitch – repeat (18 stitches)

Rounds 4 – 18: sc in each stitch (18 stitches)

Round 19: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (24 stitches)

Rounds 20 – 21: sc in each stitch (24 stitches)

Round 22: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (30 stitches)

Rounds 23 – 27: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)

Round 28: sc in the first three stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (24 stitches)

Rounds 29 – 30: sc in each stitch (24 stitches)

Round 31: sc in the first two stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (18 stitches)

Round 32: sc in each stitch – repeat (18 stitches)

Round 33: sc in the first stitch, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (12 stitches)

Head

Rounds 34 – 36: sc in each stitch (12 stitches)

Stuff

Round 37: decrease the first two stitches together – repeat (6 stitches)

Round 38: decrease until the hole closes.

Fasten off, weave in end.

Antennae (make two)

With black wool and a 2.5mm hook

Round 1: 4 sc in a magic ring (4 stitches)

Rounds 2 – 16: sc in each stitch (4 stitches)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for weaving.

Proboscis

With black wool and a 2.5mm hook

Round 1: 4 sc in a magic ring (4 stitches)

Rounds 2 – 26: sc in each stitch (4 stitches)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for weaving.

Fold the proboscis into a spiral and sew it into place.

Legs (make six)

With black wool and a 2.5 mm hook

Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)

Rounds 2 – 11: sc in each stitch (6 stitches)

Round 12: decrease the first and second stitches together, decrease the third and fourth stitches together, increase in the fifth stitch, increase in the sixth stitch (6 stitches)

Rounds 13 – 20: sc in each stitch (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Sew the antennae, proboscis and googly eyes to the head. Sew the wings and legs to the body.